LA ROMBY SOFIA CROSTA AND FRANCESCA MATTAVELLI

Short for Read-Only Memory, ROM is a storage medium that is used with computers and other electronic devices. As the name indicates, data stored in ROM may only be read. It is either modified with extreme difficulty or not at all. ROM is mostly used for firmware updates. A simple example of ROM is the cartridge used with video game consoles, which allows one system to run multiple games.

When switched on, the computer is running a small program recorded in ROM, allowing him to :

• Identify the installed processor

• Check the amount of RAM included and test it

• Examine the hard drive and any additional devices

• Read the trace (that is, the sector of the hard disk) that contains instructions for booting the system.

In particular the ROM boot called the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). It also interface Input/Output mechanisms of the PC and provides other system services including keyboard management, disk, printer, communications and data.

5 Types of ROM : ROM, PROROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash Memory. All 5 Rom Tyler's have in common two very important things: the data stored are permanent and are not lost even when powered down ; cannot be changed